A small turquoise cove with a boat and white shoreline below green hills near Saranda, southern Albania

Manastiri Beach (Monastery Beach)

Just south of Saranda centre, on the coastal road toward Ksamil

Small pebble and mixed cove

Just south of Saranda centre, on the coastal road toward Ksamil

Quieter and more local than the seafront; small, so it fills by midday in peak summer — arrive in the morning

Over Manastiri Beach (Monastery Beach)

Manastiri — "Monastery Beach", named for the old monastery near it — is where Saranda regulars go when the town beaches get too busy. It's a small cove a short way south of the centre, trading the convenience of the central seafront for clearer water and a calmer scene. Not a secret and not deserted, but a noticeable step down in crowds and up in setting from the concrete-backed town beaches.

Watercondities

Clearer than the central town beaches, with a pebbly entry

Hoe kom je er

A few minutes by car or taxi from Saranda centre, or a 20–30 minute walk from the southern end of the promenade. The frequent Saranda–Ksamil buses pass nearby — ask the driver for the Monastery Beach stop. Parking is limited in peak season.

Voorzieningen

Some seasonal sunbeds and a beach bar on a modest scale; limited compared with Saranda's central beaches, and thin outside July–August.

Locatie

Routebeschrijving

Ideaal voor

A quick, calmer swim within reach of central Saranda

Kosten: Free public beach; seasonal sunbed rental
Bijzonder kenmerk: Named for the old monastery on the headland nearby

Gidsen en lokale verhalen over Manastiri Beach (Monastery Beach)

Manastiri (Monastery) Beach Guide: Saranda's Quiet Cove

Manastiri Beach is the quiet alternative to Saranda's busy town beaches — a small cove just south of the city. Access, what to expect, and how it compares in 2026.